ITF would be right if FED Cup results would decide who gets in or not. Not just simple participation. Phelps and Bolt were at the olympics because they were swimming and running fast enough to get in their "national team". Not because they committed to a pointless race.

I'd actually like to see some form of Fed Cup ranking for this purpose, however how would players win points like would Kvitova beating Ivanovic in the final be worth the same as Wozniacki beating Bowtell in Europe/Africa III

I guess the whole competition would need to be rejigged for such a rank system to work.

I however would have no issue with such a system for Olympic qualification.

Oct 4th, 2012 11:54 PM

Marlene

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

I quote former F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg to tell if sportspeople compete for themselves or their countries:

"I didn't drove the championship for Finland but for myself. And I didn't mean to create goodwill for Finland, but if I did, I have nothing against it."

I think that's also most tennis players' mindset, they play for themselves, even in OG and somewhat also in Fed/Davis Cup. But nationalism has always been very prominent in in sports, especially in individual sports. Players play for themselves but represent also their countries.

When it comes to changing the Fed Cup format, I don't know if it's a good idea. What I like in current format is that they have matches always at another team's home court. On the other hand, having ties spread aroud the year makes it anti-climatic, it's like UEFA Champions League compared to FIFA World Cup. But I wouldn't like to change the format, I just prefer the current format, and if they change the format, I hope they change only Fed Cup's format, not Davis Cup's too. ITF should just do all they can to make these nations' cups more attractive for players, give points like in DC and maybe also financial compensation for playing.

Theres a difference between what sportsmen think and what the fans see. Its like when entertainers and sportsmen claim that they are not role models for kids.

Oct 4th, 2012 10:54 PM

August

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

I quote former F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg to tell if sportspeople compete for themselves or their countries:

"I didn't drove the championship for Finland but for myself. And I didn't mean to create goodwill for Finland, but if I did, I have nothing against it."

I think that's also most tennis players' mindset, they play for themselves, even in OG and somewhat also in Fed/Davis Cup. But nationalism has always been very prominent in in sports, especially in individual sports. Players play for themselves but represent also their countries.

When it comes to changing the Fed Cup format, I don't know if it's a good idea. What I like in current format is that they have matches always at another team's home court. On the other hand, having ties spread aroud the year makes it anti-climatic, it's like UEFA Champions League compared to FIFA World Cup. But I wouldn't like to change the format, I just prefer the current format, and if they change the format, I hope they change only Fed Cup's format, not Davis Cup's too. ITF should just do all they can to make these nations' cups more attractive for players, give points like in DC and maybe also financial compensation for playing.

Oct 4th, 2012 09:41 PM

iWill

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

The athletes do represent their country every time they play. If they weren't receiving training or coaching provided through their national association they wouldn't be competing on the world stage for tour titles. Its a mutually beneficial relationship because the player receives the things that are often too difficult financially for them to provide themselves and the national association takes pride in its athletes winning under their country's flag.

The proposal for making Fed Cup over a two week or 7 day period would be interesting to watch unfold. It would have to be in a different location every year likely rotating between a city located within the world group I members because having a somewhat pre-determined location will allow for fans to travel to each city to support their country's team. It definitely could work and frankly having the Fed Cup season spread throughout the entire year is way more anti-climatic then this would be. In my mind I am thinking of Hopman Cup mixed with the Olympics. It would be a much larger draw for fans to watch and the tradition of it being annual won't have to go away.

Oct 4th, 2012 05:19 PM

tejmeglekvár

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

No its just to prove you've actually shown some commitment to someone other than yourself. The Olympics as a whole is about a massive national team and the ITF are right to demand a player has shown commitment to their tennis team.

ITF would be right if FED Cup results would decide who gets in or not. Not just simple participation. Phelps and Bolt were at the olympics because they were swimming and running fast enough to get in their "national team". Not because they committed to a pointless race.

I think Stacey is kind of right about the playing for their country thing, but I think she draws the wrong conclusions about who benefits from that. The fact that fans often identify with players from their own country is something that benefits the WTA, because it helps to pull in fans who would otherwise not get interested in tennis.

The Fed Cup (and perhaps to a lesser extent the Olympics, although I'm doubtful about that) is an integral part of that, because Fed Cup ties are the events that motivate patriotic fans to come along and support their country. The football-match atmosphre that goes along with that means that Fed Cup is also often a lot more fun than regular tournaments. But that will only apply if the Fed Cup ties continues in more or less the current format.

The two-week proposal will pretty much kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The fact that Allaster proposed it suggests she doesn't understand that, and rather sees the Fed Cup as a burden on the tour that has to be reduced as much as possible. In fact they should do the opposite: streamline the tour to make more room for players to represent their country in Fed Cup more, without that placing undue burden on their tour commitments

All of this!

A lot of people who are mainly fans of other sports are often general sport fans as well. That means in tennis they follow basically the slams and Davis Cup/Fed Cup. So having a properly working team event is good for the sport. This year's final was sold out in a few hours, which is absolutely amazing.

Reducing it to a one week event would be a bad decision imho. Maybe they should be more flexible with the schedule, say the second round, which is in the middle of the clay season, should always takes place in Europe if possible.

I would like to see a team event in the olympics as well, using both weeks of the olympics, first week a single competition, second week team competition or something similar. In return no Fed Cup in olympic years.

Oct 4th, 2012 12:40 PM

onebridgecafe

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

What on earth would be good IF ever a player represented her country.

Show the power of the country?

RIDICULOUS.

19th century minded zombie.

Oct 4th, 2012 11:45 AM

StoneRose

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

Typical PR BS. Nonsense of course. Players play for themselves.

Oct 4th, 2012 06:02 AM

stromatolite

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

I think Stacey is kind of right about the playing for their country thing, but I think she draws the wrong conclusions about who benefits from that. The fact that fans often identify with players from their own country is something that benefits the WTA, because it helps to pull in fans who would otherwise not get interested in tennis.

The Fed Cup (and perhaps to a lesser extent the Olympics, although I'm doubtful about that) is an integral part of that, because Fed Cup ties are the events that motivate patriotic fans to come along and support their country. The football-match atmosphre that goes along with that means that Fed Cup is also often a lot more fun than regular tournaments. But that will only apply if the Fed Cup ties continues in more or less the current format.

The two-week proposal will pretty much kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The fact that Allaster proposed it suggests she doesn't understand that, and rather sees the Fed Cup as a burden on the tour that has to be reduced as much as possible. In fact they should do the opposite: streamline the tour to make more room for players to represent their country in Fed Cup more, without that placing undue burden on their tour commitments

Oct 4th, 2012 04:12 AM

Wiggly

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

Switzerland is known for luxury watches, bank accounts, chocolate and Roger Federer.
Serbian players have a diplomatic passport. Djokovic could become the President tomorrow morning if he wanted to.

Players do represent their country everyday.

Go see a match at the Australian Open. There will be security if two players from "rival" countries play against each other.

Oct 4th, 2012 03:43 AM

Mary Cherry.

Re: Stacey Allaster: "We believe our athletes are playing for their country every day

How on earth did this thread sidetrack into a discussion about Hollywood movies? Only on TF...

Anyway, the bit about players representing their countries every day is a load of bollocks. That's one thing I like about tennis - I don't feel entitled to support a player just because of their nationality (although being British, the media makes that pretty difficult at times).

The idea about turning the Fed Cup into a one-two week event is a good one, even if it is a bit impractical. I'm not sure how the whole thing would work when it comes down to all the ties outside of the World Group.

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